Radiation Therapy Day 2... whats next????

[pnyc]

so i started 2 days ago -- tonight will be day 3 -- and then i go 3 more weeks 5 days a week

so far - i have been feeling slightly more nauseous today then yesterday - and since it is a cumulative effect - i decided to take my first pill of Prochlorperazine Maleate 10mg just 15 minutes ago.

i have been a tad bit more sluggish -- but i have no idea if its actually from the radiation itself, or...

...after everything so far i have been thru --- this is the first time i have been "buggin out"

i have been suffering from tons of anxiety -- sleeping in fits - and my head is just not on straight. i feel my mood is depressed and i told my wife last night that i make no promises as to not being a total B-----D for the next few weeks.
i even think i am gonna have to tell me coworkers soon - which i really prefer not to do.

i havent really thought twice about all this so far... and suddenly i feel so depressed. maybe after i take the nausea med and my stomach feels better i'll cheer up?
anyone else have similar experience?
am i just freakin myself out for no reason?

the radiation place i go is like a field day -- everyone laughing and relaxed - its a very nice place. but i am up and down all day.

i doubt the radiation could cause all this -- but if it makes me sluggish - what else is it doing to me to drag me into the doldrums?

[Fish]

It sounds like you're having what some of us call a "meltdown". It's a period of stress/anxiety/depression, when the reality of the whole cancer situation just seems to become too much to handle.

I've had these same feelings and when I do, I'm not a fun guy to be around.

Anxiety can be managed, ativan does wonders for me and I've also been using a bio-feedback based computer game.

You're not really freaking out for no reason, cancer is a darn good reason to freak out. But you do need to find a way to get though this acute flare up. Talk to your doc, ask about anti-anxiety meds. Prochlorperazine is a phenothiazine derivative and thus has tranquilizing effects in addition to the anti nausea effects, so use of that to prevent nausea might have the added benefit of helping your mood.

On a positive note, these moods usually pass. But if you find yourself getting/feeling worse, talk to you doc ASAP, you could also consider seeing a counselor, sometimes it helps to be able to vent to someone who's not a friend or family member.

And keep coming here to vent too!

[TCLEFT]

This too shall pass (http://www.tc-cancer.com/forum/showthread.php?p=36202#post36202)
Unfortunately, this is normal. I'll tell you what worked best for me, everybody here. Let it out as often as you need. You can unload right here. Unfortunately, we all understand. Hang in Bro and keep looking over your shoulder, we're there.
Much Love,
Mark

[dadmo]

I know when it happens to you it's awful but this is a standard melt down. I can remember walking with my son at 1-2 am while he tried to relax himself. What you going through is normal but it still stinks to high heaven.

[rgw]

PNYC

I am in the same spot..finished 12 of 17 rad.treatments today. It will get better..stay in the routine. I actually found that if I eat a little ..no more than two hours after treatment, I actually felt better. It may work for you as well.

You will be done with the treatment before you know it....I finish next friday !